Racing machine



May 28, 1940. A. R. CASSTEVENS RACING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 flem/vpeOassriw/m y 1940; A. R. CASSTEVENS 2,202,572

RACING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 193 8 5 She ets-Sheet 2 A. R. CASSTEVENS May 28, 1940.

RACING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet s 42m A/DECA SSTEVENS y 1940. A. R. CASSTEVENS 2,202,572 I RACING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 60 I I 76 v Filed Nov. 4, 1938 fleuA/vokCAssrwz/vs y 1940. A. R. cAssTEvENs 2,202,572 I RACING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1938 5 Shets-Sheet 5 gnaw kw,

Patented May 28, 1940 r UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFlCE RACING MACHINE ArmandR. Casstevens, Houston, Tex. Application November 4, 1938, Serial No. 2385772 8Claims. 01. 273- 86) It is another object of the invention to pro vide in racing equipment of the character described wherein the racers, at the beginning of the race, occupy the same position as at the termination of the preceding race with mechanical means through which the racers may be moved to post position and temporarily stopped abreast and thereafter automatically released for the completion of the next succeeding race.

It is another object of the invention to provide equipment of the character described wherein the racers are caused to move at random and at variable speeds influenced solely by the mechanism itself, uninfiuenced by the operator.

7 With the above and other objectsinvie-wthe invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction; operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in 3U this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-'- Figure l shows a plan. view of the complete device showing the transparent covering and a portion of the race course underneath broken away.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional viewv taken on the line 22 of Figure 1. r

Figure 3 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, ver- 4o tical, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l. 4.) Figure 5 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, plan I view.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged,'fragmentary, side elevation of a timing disc and associated parts. Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a :34) one way clutch employed.

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view, taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 shows a wiring diagram. Figure 10 shows a seven point switch assembly 543 shown in starting position;

Figure 11 shows a fragmentary, plan view of a switch operating mechanism.

Figure 12 shows an enlarged end view thereof, and

Figure 13 shows a fragmentary, plan view of another switch operating mechanism employed.

Referring now more particularly tothe drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral I de-si'gnates' a suitable cabinet or casing, within which the racers and the operative mechan-ism therefor are enclosed, said cabinet having a transparent covering 2. Spaced beneath the covering there is a. transverse horizontal partition 3 provided with the elliptical slots 4 therearound and spaced a uniform distance apart.

Beneath, and suspended from, the partition 3 there is an elliptical frame designated generally by the numeral 5 having an elevated central portion 5a and which declines in steps, from said central portion as shown more clearly in Figures 2, 3 and 4. This frame 5, Ba is also suitably supported from the bottom of the cabinet by suitable upstanding posts 6.

The racers, in the present instance being miniature horses, are designated by the numerals 1. They are supported on the upper ends of the supporting rods 8 which move in the slots 4-. The

lower ends of these rods are fastened to endless chains, as 9, which move around underneath the I race course andwhich are concealed from view.

These chains travel about the rollers H] which are mounted on ball bearings on the vertical rods These rods are supported on the outwardly turned, lower margin, or skirt, of the frame 5, 5a and in turn support the sections of the partition 3, between the respective slots.4, forming the race track proper. The rods 8 which support theracers '1 carry suitable guides I2 which move in the guideways, or tracks, [3, l3 carried on the rods i I, as shown in Figure 2.

The chains 9 are separately driven from inde- "pendent motors Hi. The driving mechanism is illustrated, more clearly in Figures 2 and 5. A description of the driving connection between one motor and the sprocket chain driven thereby will be applicable to all.

The numeral .15 designates av vertical shaft mounted to rotate in suitable bearings in the a 0 bracket Hi. This bracket is mounted on'the: motor supporting platform H. The j driving I shaft 18 of the motor has a worm gear I!) thereon which isin mesh with the helical gear 20 fixedon the verticalshaft l'5 whereby said last mentioned shaft is driven by the motor, all as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5.

Fixed on the upper end of the shaft l5 there is a sprocket wheel 2| which drives the sprocket chain 22, operating thereover and this chain in turn drives the sprocket wheel 23 fixed on the lower end of the short shaft 24 which operates in a suitable bearing in the frame 5, 5a. Fixed on the upper end of the shaft 24 is a sprocket Wheel 25 which is in mesh with, and drives the corresponding sprocket chain 9 causing the same to revolve and move the corresponding racer i about the track.

The shaft l5 also has a helical gear 25 fixed thereon which is in mesh with and drives a reversiole worm gear 21 fixed on the horizontal governor shaft 28. On this lastmentioned shaft there is a conventional governor arrangement 29 embodying a brake disc 30. The governor mechanism, including said disc, rotates with the shaft 28 and the disc as is slidable longitudinally relative to the shaft whereon it is mounted.

Fixed on the shaft l5 there is also a pulley 3! over which the belt 32 operates. This belt also operates around an idler pulley 33 and also about a pulley 34 which rotates in a vertical plane, as shown in Figure 1. The pulley 3G is fixed on a shaft 35 which in turn is mounted in a suitable bearing in the standard 36 upstanding from the bottom of the cabinet I. Loosely mounted on each shaft 35 there is a disc 31 attached to which there is a ratchet wheel 38. Adjacent this ratchet wheel there is a push bar 39 whose. outer end is accessible to an operator. This push bar has brackets, as 49, attached thereto and pivotally mounted on each bracket and cooperating with each ratchet 38 there is a dog M which is maintained in cooperating relation with the corresponding ratchet by the pull spring 52, one end of which is attached to the bar 39 and the other end of which is attached to said dog ll. The disc 3? may turn freely on the shaft 35 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6. Each disc 3'!, however, is connected to its shaft 35 by conventional one way clutch d3 of such construction that when the corresponding motor is started and the shaft 35 correspondingly driven, said shaft eter of the gears 22 as shown in Figure 1, each racer has an equal chance to win.

Pivo-tally mounted on the upper end of an upstanding standard d5 there is a cross-lever 46 whose ends are overturned forming the arms ll, Q8. The arm 4? is adjustable as to length by a turn buckle 49 and said arm terminates in. an enlarged contact surface Ell! in the path of the projections M. The free end of the arm 48 terminates in a brake shoe t! normally held in contact with the brake disc 39 by the pull of the coil spring 512, one end of which is attached to the upper end of the standard and the other end of which is attached to the lever 46. As the contact surface 56 is successivelycontacted by the projections M, as the disc 37 turns, the brake shoe 5| will be successively released from the separates into the branches l2, 73.

brake disc 39 and as the contact surface 50 is successively released by the projections i l, the brake shoe 5! will be pressed against the disc 36 in accordance with the pull of the spring 52.

The shaft 28, therefore, will rotate at variable rates of speed causing the speed of movement of the corresponding racer I to vary as it moves about the race course.-

Referring to 'Figure 1, Awill be hereinafter referred to as post position and B will be hereinafter referred to as finish position. At the said last mentioned position are the vertical shafts 52'sv having upper end bearings in the partition 3 and the lower end bearings in the frame 5. These shafts having the rollers or drums lid rotatably mounted thereon around which the chains 9 move. They have the four blade turnstiles 55 fixed on their upper ends and the two blade v turnstiles 56 fixed on their lower ends.

At post position are the vertical shafts 57 having upper end bearings in the partition 3 and lower end bearings in the frame 5 with four blade turnstiles 58 fixed on their upper ends and two blade turnstiles 59 and four blade turnstilesfita fixed on their lower ends. also have guideways or tracks l3 thereon in which the guides l2 move as the racers proceed around the track. v

Incorporated intothe electrical circuit 6%, leading toeach motor, there is a magneto switch designated generally by the numeral 6 l associated with which there is a brake arm 62 whose free end is overturned toward the disc 3% and carries a brake shoe 63. When. the circuit, leading to the motor, is broken the magneto switch will be effective to set the brake shoe 63 against the disc 38 to at once stop the rotation of said disc. The motor shaft 6 3 is connected to the driving shaft l8 ofthe motor by means of ,a suitable differential clutch 65 whose members have a yieldable connection forming means for absorbing the shock incidental to the sudden stoppage of rotation of the disc 30 thus protecting the The shafts 53, 5?

mechanism driven by the motor from undue 7 stress or breakage.

The numerals 66 designate switch boxes for electrical switches 6?. These switches are located adjacent the turnstables 53 to be operated thereby. The numerals .68 designate switch boxes wherein are located the switches 69, said boxes 63 being-located adjacent the turnstiles 55 so that the switches may be operated thereby. There is a seven pole, double throwv switchn'iechanism v embodying the shift plate ll? having the pairs "H, Ha of contact tongues thereon and insulated therefrom. The tongues'l'l are electrically con- 'nected with the wiring 72 and the tongues Ho.

are connected into the wiring it into which the switches as are also connected. The switches M are incorporated into the wiring 12 leading to the tongues H. One main lead inwiring 14 Associated with the shift plate H! are the contact tongues .75 from which the wiring 76 leads to the respective magneto switches 63. The plate ill may be shifted into one position to electrically connect the tongues H, 15 to complete circuits 72 through wiring F6 to the motors and to another position toelectrically connect the tongues Tia, to com:-

plete the circuit 73 'on through the wiring T6 to the motors.

Connected to one end of the shift plate W are the coil pull springs Tl which normally hold the plate 78 in position to maintain the contact tongues lid, 15 electrically connected. At its other end the switch plate It is formed with a catch 18 and there is a suitable latch mechanism 19 designed to engage said catch and hold the plate 10 in its other position, when shifted thereto, with the contact tongues 15, ll electrically connected. The shift plate 10 may be manually actuated by a push arm 39a connected tc a cross bar 3917 connecting the push bars 39 and movable therewith.

At the starting of any particular race the racer which won the preceeding race will be at position B, having opened one of the switches 59 by coming into contact with the corresponding turnstile 55 and actuating its shaft 53 to thereby actuate the corresponding turnstile t andopen said switch thus breaking the circuit to all motors and stopping all of the racers and the other racers will be located on the race course intheir respective positions behind the finish position 13. Upon actuation of the plunger bars 39, in the present illustration, toward the right the switch plate will be correspondingly actuated to carry the tongues ll into electrical contact with the'tongues as shown in Figures 9 and 10 and the plate 10 will be latched in that position by engagement of the latch 19 with the catch '53. The push bars 39 also carry a cross bar 390. Opposite this there is a shiftable yoke 39d, said cross bar and yoke having inwardly extending arms 39c opposite the respective switches 5'1. One of the push bars 39 is operatively connected with the yoke 3901 through a pivotally mounted shift lever 39f-having a sliding pivotal connection at one end with the push bar 39 and at its other end with the yoke 39d. Upon actuation of the push bars 39 toward the right as above stated, the arms 39c will be correspondingly actuated to close all of the switches 61. Upon release of the plunger bars they will be returned to their original position by the pull spring 8t. Upon return of the plunger bars the dogs 4| will engage the corresponding ratchet wheels 38 thus spinning the discs 31. Since these discs rotate independently they will turn different distances due to variations in friction with their respective shafts and due to slight variations in their momentum to the end that the corresponding projections M of the respective discs will assume varying angular relations with respect to their corresponding shafts. Therefore the influence of each disc 31 (while being driven by its motor), on said motor'will vary with respect to the influence of other of the discs 31 on their corresponding motors; that is, the discs 31 will not operate to slow up, or permit acceleration of, their respective motors at the same time so that during the progress of the race the racers will not move at uniform speeds but a racer will move faster when a projection M of its corresponding disc has operated to release the corresponding brake shoe 53 from its disc 3! and will be slowed upwhen the corresponding friction surface 5i has been released by a projection 44 to permit the brake shoe 5i to brake the disc 33.

Preliminary, therefore, to the actual beginning of the race the racers I will move around the track to post position A of Figure l. The first racer reaching said position will strike a blade of the turnstile- 58 partially turning the shaft 57 and operating through the corresponding turnstile 59 to open a switch 61 thus stopping the corresponding motor with the racer at post position and as the subsequent'racers come into post position the corresponding switches 6'1 will be successively broken thus stopping all of the 14a to a retarded relay 83.

motors with the racers abreast at post position as shown in Figure 1. As the racers break their corresponding switches 61 the four blade turnstiles 59a will operate to close theswitches 8| in .a circuit82 leading from the other lead in wire This relay has a delayed action and operates a few seconds after switches 8| are closed and thereupon acts to energize the solenoid 83a which releases the latch mechanism 19 from the catch '78 permitting the springs TI to return the switch bar 13 to original position bringing the contact tongues Ha into electrical connection with the corresponding tongues "45 and at the same time energizing the solenoids 83b and actuating the yokes 84, 84 connected to the switches 69 to close said switches thereby completing circuits to all of the motors. The solenoids 83a, 331) are connected by wiring Mb, 82a with wiring M, 82. The racers are thereupon moved around the race track. As they pass finish position B they will partially rotate the shafts 53, the two blade turnstiles 5B correspondingly turning idly. The racers will move on round the track at variable rates of speed from time to time due to the action of the discs 31 on the corresponding motors. As the racers pass post position A, in approaching the end of the race, they operate the turnstiles 59a to open the switches 8! thus cutting the retarded relay 83 out of the circuit. This releases the solenoids 83b and the springs 85 will thereupon operate through the yokes 84 to release the switches 59 so that the winning racer, upon reaching finish position, may turn the shaft 53 which will operate the turnstile 58 to open the corresponding switch 59. As the racers pass post position in approaching the end of the race, the two blade turnstiles 59 will perform a partial idle rotation at this time not affecting the switches 5? which will remain open. The racers move on to finish position 13, the winner further turning the corresponding turnstile 55, which in turn will further rotate its shaft 53 and impart a further rotation to the turnstile on the lower end of said shaft.

This, in turn, will now operate to open a switchplate I9 (Fig. 10) which connects the contacts 15 and l i. This movement also closes all switches 61, at the post position, which were open. In this manner, the starting circuits are made between the motors and the lead in wires. These circuits comprise line 14, switches (ill, at the post position, branch 12, contacts "H and 15, wiring it, magnetic brakes 6! (which release when current is passed through them) electrical circuit 69, motors, and back to the inlet line I -la. Each motor has its individual switch 61 which is opened when the corresponding horse reaches post position, thereby stopping each horse individually and in line with each other at the post position.

It may be noted that there is a wiring l3 and circuit 82 across the inlet lines 14, Ma, and a set of switches 8!, M at post position which are connected in series. These switches control a retarder relay 83 which operates a short interval of time after current has started flowing through it. This relay controls current toelectro-magnet 83a which pulls the latch 19 holding the switch plate so that contacts H and are engaged, and the electro-magnet 83b which actuates the yokes 84 (Fig. 11) to close the switch 69 which was opened by the winning horse of the preceding race.

The switches 8! are located at the post position, and as the horses line up at the post, these switches are closed. The horses are stopped at post position as they open switches 6'! located at the post position. As the last horse comes to the post, it stops momentarily until relay 83 acts, then all of the horses move forward by circuits hereinafter described. At the time that the last horse closes the last switch 8!, relay 33 then acts to energize magnet 83a (Fig. 10), and release the switch plate '50 allowing the springs to move said plate so that contacts 15 and Na are engaged. The horses then move around the. track while connected in this running circuit oontaining inlet line M, switches 69, branch '53, contacts 15 and Na, wiring it, brake El and electrical circuits 58 and motor, thence to line 74a. As the horses leave the post position A and pass the finish position B, the switches 69 do not open, as the turnstile is two-bladed as hereinbefore disclosed. Then 'as the horses pass the post position, switches 8! are opened releasing the relay 83 which allows the electromagnets 83a and 83b to become inactive.

As the first horse reaches the finish position, it opens switch 69 and all the horses are stopped in their relative positions as determined by the governor control as hereinbefore described. The horses are then in position for the push bars 39 to be again actuated to start the horses on another race.

What I claim is:

l. A racing machine comprising a race track having a post, or starting position, and a finish position, means for moving the racers about the track from finish position to post position, means for automatically rendering the moving means temporarily inoperative when all the racers reach post position and then rendering the moving means operative, means for thereafter maintaining the moving means operative to move the racers completely around the track to post position and on to finish position and means at finish position arranged to be actuated, upon arrival of the leading racer at final finish position, and efiective to render the moving means inoperative and to stop all the racers.

2. A racing machine comprising a race track, a plurality of racers movable about the track, means for moving the racers, said moving means including an electric motor for each racer, a series of starting circuits leading to the motors, manually operable means for completing these circuits, switches in the circuits, means operative by the moving means to open the switches to break the circuits, another series of running circuits leading to the motors having switches therein each common to all the circuits of said other series, electrically controlled means arranged to be rendered eifective upon the breaking of said series of starting circuits, to control said manually operable means whereby said running circuits to the motors will be completed and whereby said switches controlling said running circuits will be closed and means operative by the moving means arranged to open said common switches.

3. A racing machine comprising a race track having post and finish positions, a plurality of racers movable about the track, means for moving the racers, said moving means including an electric motor for each racer, a starting anda running circuit associated with the motors, switching means formed to connect the motors into either of said circuits, said switching means being manually movable to connect the motors to the starting circuit, and automatically movable to connect the motors to the running circuit, electrical control means arranged to be actuated by said racers at the post position and efiective to stop the individual motors, thereby stopping each racer at post position, said running circuit having means arranged to be actuated by the first racer that passes the finish position to break the circuits to the motors, and to stop the racers at finish position, said control means being formed to move said starting position and to automatically reset said means to stop the racers at the finish position.

4. A racing machine comprising a race track having post and finish positions, a racer movable about the track, means formoving the racer, said moving means including an electrical motor, a

starting circuit and a running circuit for the motor, switch means movable manually to one position to connect the motor into the starting circuit, latch means for latching the switch means in said position, means for automatically moving the switch means to connect the motor into the running circuit, means arranged to be actuated by the racer at post position to break the starting circuit, electrical control means for releasing the latch means, means arranged to be actuated by the racer at post position for completing the circuit to said electrical control means and means positioned to be actuated by the racer at finish position and efiective to break the running circuit.

5. A racing machine comprising a race track having post and finish positions, a plurality of racers movable about the track, means for moving the racers, said moving means including an electric motor for each racer, a starting circuit connecting all the motors in parallel with a supply line and a running circuit connecting all the motors in series, switching means formed to connect the motors into either of said circuits, said switching means being manually movable to connect the motors to the starting circuit, latch means for latching the switch means in said position, an electro-magnet adapted to move said latch means to release the suntching means, electrical switches in the starting circuit arranged to be actuated by said racers at the post position and efifective to stop the individual motors, thereby stopping each racer at post position, switches located at the post position connected to control means adapted to control said electromagnet, said running circuit having switches inseries arranged to be actuated by the first racer that passes the finish position to break the circuits to the motors to stop the racers at finish position, said control means being formed to move said switching means from the starting position and to automatically reset said means to stop the racers at the finish position.

6. An intermittent drive for a racing'device comprising a motor, a power take-off shaft driven by the motor, a brake disc operatively connected to said shaft, a brake shoe adapted to contact said brake disc, a rotatable disc having an uneven surface, means operatively connecting the brake shoe and the surface of the rotatable disc whereby the brake disc is intermittently contacted by the brake shoe, said intermittent con- 15 iii tact being caused by the roughness of the surface of the disc.

7. A racing machine comprising a race track having a post, or starting position, and a finish position, a, plurality of racers movable about the track, means for moving the racers about the track including an electric motor, a starting circuit leading to the motor effective to energize the motor to drive the racer to post position, a switch in the circuit for stopping the racer at post position, a running circuit connected to the motor effective to energize the motor to drive the racer from post position completely around the track to post position and onto finish position, a switch in the running circuit effective to break the circuit when the racer reaches the .finish position after having gone completely around the trackto stop the racer, switch means common to both circuits to switch the motor from one circuit to the other circuit.

8. In a racing machine including a track and racer movable about the track, means for moving the racer about the track, and a motor for driving said moving means; means for contro1- ling said moving means to vary the speed of each racer comprising a shaft, a disc rotatably mounted on the shaft and having an uneven surface, means for clutching the disc to the shaft, means a for rotating the disc independently of the shaft,

means for rotating the shaft, a member having a contact face bearing against said uneven surface whereby the member-is moved as the disc is rotated, means operatively connecting the member and said moving means whereby the speed of the racer is varied in accordance with movement of the member.

ARMAND R. CASSTEVENS. 

